How to compare and buy bundles

How do I compare different bundles?

It’s easy to see what bundles are on offer. We list all the bundles from every provider in order of price, starting with the cheapest. Click on a bundle’s name if you see one that catches your fancy, and we’ll tell you what’s included. This can be broadband, TV, home phone, and even a mobile SIM. Once you’ve decided on one, click the blue ‘see deal’ button to travel to the provider’s page where you can sign up for the bundle.

Availability

Not all providers and services are available everywhere. To see what bundles are on offer in your area, enter your postcode in the checker at the top of the page.

Check the detail

There are four key services you can get in bundles. These are broadband, TV, home phone, and mobile SIMs. Different bundles offer different services, so you want to make sure you’re getting the services you want from the bundle you choose.

Watch out for hidden costs

The monthly price for the bundle isn’t the only cost you will have to pay. Most bundles that include home phone and broadband are subject to line rental, which can cost up to £16.99 per month. Installation can also be subject to a charge. If you need a new phone line at your property you might have to pay an additional fee to cover this. For broadband bundles, you will probably have to pay a fee for the delivery of the router.

Why choose a bundle?

When your telecoms services are split between many providers, it can be a real headache to keep on top of problems and monthly bills. You only have the one port of call when you take all your services (or two or three) from the same provider. So, if you have a problem with your broadband, TV and home phone services, you should only have to make a single call to customer services to sort out any issues.

It’s often the cheapest option

A lower monthly price is the best reason for choosing a bundle. You can often save a lot of money by taking everything from the same place, rather than splitting services between two or three providers. When you compare TV bundles and broadband bundles online, you might notice that some deals have half price periods too, which can be another great way to save money.

One bill means less stress

All those different bills from all those different providers can make staying on top of your telecoms finances a struggle. Taking a bundle can help streamline the billing situation, as you’ll only get the one bill for your broadband, TV, home phone and even mobile SIM. This makes things a lot easier.

Pros & cons

Pros

Huge range of choice

A cheap way to get all telecom services

Only one point of contact required

Cons

Availability may be an issue

Line rental required on most bundles

Some TV bundles require broadband

Which bundle is right for me?

Sky bundles

With Sky you can enjoy two or more great digital TV, broadband and phone services from the famous satellite broadcaster in a single bundle. The most popular Sky bundles are Sky TV bundles and Sky broadband, TV and phone bundles. Sky has the largest selection of TV channels of any provider. Its broadband speeds can reach up to 76Mbps, and you have to take line rental with all its bundles.

Virgin Media bundles

Several of Virgin Media’s bundles are quad-play, and contain broadband, TV, home phone, and a mobile SIM. Virgin Media has the fastest broadband in the UK. Its highest download speed – up to 152Mbps – is almost double that of its nearest competitors. However, Virgin’s service is only on offer in certain areas so it’s worth using our availability checker before you settle on a Virgin bundle.

TalkTalk bundles

In order to get TalkTalk’s TV service, you need to take broadband from the provider. While TalkTalk doesn’t offer as many TV channels as Sky or Virgin Media, it benefits from a lower monthly price. The YouView+ box comes free with TalkTalk TV bundles, and lets you pause, rewind, and record live TV.

BT bundles

If you like the idea of joining a provider with a long-established history of telecoms expertise, BT might be for you. BT is another triple-play provider, featuring broadband, TV, and home phone services. Every BT bundle comes with BT Sport for free. You also get access to thousands of BT hotspots around the country. The provider doesn’t have as many channels as Sky or Virgin Media, however, and you need to take broadband to watch BT TV.

What will I need?

You’ll have to cancel your current services

It’s likely that you already have broadband, TV, or home phone at your property. If this is the case, you will need to inform your current providers before you switch.

You need a landline for broadband

The majority of broadband products require a landline. The only exception is Virgin Media – and even then, only on a handful of packages. If you don’t currently have a landline at your property you will have to have one installed. Your new provider can sort this out for you, but you may have to pay a fee. When you receive broadband through a landline, you usually have to pay line rental. This can cost as much as £16.99 per month.

Broadband is often a pre-requisite for some TV providers

Both BT and TalkTalk require a broadband connection for their TV services. This is due to the way that the television content is transmitted. While this can be a pain, if you’re intending to bundle your services anyway it can often mean reduced costs in the long run. To compare TV, internet, and phone bundles from TalkTalk and BT, scroll up to the top of the page.

How do I switch?

Once you’ve chosen a bundle, you will have to contact your current broadband, TV, and phone providers to cancel their services. You can do this by calling their customer service departments.

Watch out for termination fees

If you haven’t been with your current providers for long, you are probably still in contract. If you try to leave when still subject to a contract’s minimum term, you might incur termination fees. These can be very expensive, possibly spiralling into hundreds of pounds. If you aren’t sure whether you’re still in contract, simply ring your provider and ask. If you have your account details to hand when you call this should only take a few minutes.

Six essential questions before you buy

Can I commit to a contract?

Can I get broadband, TV and phone where I am?

Am I happy to take three or more services from the same provider?

How many TV channels would I like?

Do I want fibre broadband?

Am I aware of the installation costs?

Cable.co.uk recommends

When considering a bundle, it’s a good idea to take your long-term financial situation into account. A half-price deal for six months may seem great now, but ask yourself if you can afford the full price once the deal period has expired. If you can’t, it might be prudent to select a smaller, cheaper bundle, as you can always upgrade in future. Once you have chosen your new bundle, you can click on the blue ‘see deal’ button, which will take you straight to the provider’s site, where you can complete your purchase.